Obviously any 50 minute video about the Israel-Palestine conflict is going to leave a lot out. As I said in my review, I expect that even Palestinians would quibble about things. More than likely they would similarly argue that important aspects were ignored. But, to be clear, the film did not deny that Hamas is anti-Semitic and your accusation is untrue. Rather, the film did not address that topic. That may be a legitimate complaint, but that is not the complaint that you have articulated. The video did describe Hamas as both a religious and political movement and described some of the terrorist events in which it had been involved. |
That’s not my experience. As a Jew who speaks Hebrew and lived in Israel, I’ve been shouted down and called a liar by both right-wing Gush Eminem type Jews and MAGA Christians when recounting my actual first hand experiences from living in Jerusalem. When I recount my personal, first hand experiences on this board, for example, I’m always called an anti-Semite by people for whom that is a knee jerk reaction to even the mildest criticism of Israel. |
I appreciate your running this site, and keeping what could be pure rabble under control, but you're wrong on the video. I have had to watch it (though honestly, I'm not sure the short cut or the long one?). The explicit and implicit talk that Jews control 'the American mind' as the title puts it, is classical anti-semitism. It's repeated throughout the film. You can put together a documentary that discusses current events without anti-semitism, but this ain't it. |
You are misstating the title which is "The Occupation of the American Mind" which is obviously a reference to the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Nevertheless, I'm not thrilled with that title because it is very close to the classic anti-Semitic trope as you misstated. Still, fixating on the title and ignoring the substance of the video is missing the forest for the trees. As I noted in my earlier post, the idea that Israel is "brainwashing" Americans is explicitly refuted in the film. Your claim that the idea that Israel "controls the American mind" is repeated throughout the film is simply not true. Watch the version that the students want to show and see for yourself. The video is not balanced. It does not show both sides. It was not meant to. But that does not mean that it is inaccurate or should not be shown or that it is anti-Semitic. Simply brushing the film of as "anti-Semitic" is engaging in exactly the sort of tactics criticized in the video. |
The title itself is an important issue, though.
All students will be exposed to the title, which will be hung on posters on the walls at the school they are required by law to attend. And that title is anti-Semitic (or as you put it, “very close to the classic anti-Semitic trope”). It tells Jewish students that they don’t belong, aren’t welcome, and aren’t safe at school. A cynic might say that is the entire point of this project. Imagine a knot-tying club advertised its meetings with a poster of a noose. The club itself is really just a bunch of kids tying knots. The club is fine, although a cynic might say it’s pretextual. Does that make it ok to hang images of nooses all over the school? |
That is quite a stretch but rather than debate the issue let me just ask you this. Would you agree to allow the video to be shown if it were advertised simply as a video that describes how pro-Israel groups have influenced American perceptions of the Israel-Palestine conflict without using its title? |
Stop lying. The film goes into detail excusing the anti-semitic Hamas charter. And obviously just leaving that part out is a huge distortion. I’m not against showing the doc at school but just like with Maus, the school is justified in taking steps to prevent disruption and harassment. |
The version of the video that I watched, which is the version the students want to present at school, does not do that. So it is actually you who is lying and I invite everyone to view the film themselves and confirm which of us is being truthful. I am not sure why you are comparing books that are assigned reading to a film being presented as a voluntary activity during non-classroom hours. No students are being assigned to watch the video. |
What makes you believe the plaintiffs and/or the ACLU would be satisfied by that arrangement? Dictating the language they can use on a poster seems like a classic infringement of free speech. |
Directly from the transcript - claims thay the Hamas charter calling for the slaughter of the Jews is meaningless and just exploited for propaganda: “And Luntz goes onto say that one of the most effective ways to make the conflict about terrorism is to refer to an obscure political document written in 1988 by a small group of ideologues, the Hamas Charter, that calls for the destruction of Israel. Even though the Hamas leadership effectively disowned the Charter a long time ago, it’s been PR gold for Israel. Luntz’s research discovered that when Americans hear the words of the Charter, Israel goes from bully to victim, and sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians dissipates. So, he says, Don’t just quote it, read it -- out loud -- again and again. And his advice has been taken up – often hysterically – by Israel’s advocates.” https://www.mediaed.org/transcripts/The-Occupation-Of-The-American-Mind-Transcript.pdf Just *imagine* if anything CLOSE to that was said about any other ethnic/racial group. |
I just confirmed that that section is not included in the abridged version that the students want to present. You can go to 16:46 of the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jKRwdsq-As to conform for yourself. It would be really helpful for this discussion if you would just watch the video yourself so that I would not have to keep correcting your misinformation. I will also note, however, that the advice that Luntz is quoted as offering as been followed assiduously. You will not find a single discussion here about Hamas in which its charter is not brought up. So, I am not sure why you find this objectionable. |
Oh so you’re doubling down on the “anti-semitism is not real - it’s just hasbara propaganda.” Nice. |
dp: I think you are looking for gotchas rather than acknowledging the complexities of the situation. |
I am not sure to what anti-Semitism you are referring, but the video that the students want to show is not anti-Semitic. Accusations that the video is anti-Semitic may be "hasbara" but they are more likely simply your clumsy effort to denigrate the video. In either case, the accusation is wrong. It is notable that I have repeatedly suggested that others view the video in order to confirm that my description is correct. But, none of the opponents have similarly suggested that the video be watched to confirm that their accusations are true. Rather, you have made false statements and engaged in this type of post that ignores substance and puts false words in my mouth. |
It is, indeed, the complexity and sensitivities around this issue/film that is why the school and principal were justified in wanting to be thoughtful and deliberate before letting the students show the film. In fact, it would be totally irresponsible for a school to rubberstamp any film on this topic without viewing it and considering how it would impact the student body and figuring out how the group could go forward to stage a viewing in a safe way. |